Page 72 of Melting the Ice

“Yeah. It’s not like you play football or something.”

“What?”

“They get way more media attention than hockey players,” she said.

“Hey! Ouch. But also, you’re not wrong, thank fuck. That kind of attention would drive me insane. I’ve seen a bit of it with Tally because Cora’s an heiress, but for the most part, we can all live quieter lives unless we do something really stupid.”

“So, we’ll figure it out. Maybe I can crash with Harper, and we’ll stash my stuff behind that huge Megatron cardboard cutout you have hidden in the closet behind your puzzles. Why do you have that thing anyway?”

I was surprised this was the first time she’d mentioned finding it. “You’ve known about that and haven’t teased me endlessly?”

She grinned. “There are so many things I can rile you up about. Guess I forgot about the massive cardboard cutout.”

Doubtful, but I’d let it go. “Gag gift from Ray when I made my first NHL team.”

“Um, you’ve been on like three or four teams since then. How does he travel?” Her eyes twinkled with laughter, and I was glad to see her smiling again. I hated that she felt like anything less than the amazing woman she was simply because she didn’t fit in the box her family wanted for her.

She was Josie, my hurricane. She drove me crazy, but I wouldn’t want her to be anyone she wasn’t. Fuck, I was so gone for her. Maybe Ray wouldn’t kick my ass when he found out about us.

But I’d wait to do it on her terms. He was her brother, after all.

“He folds up and fits in a box with my suits.”

She burst out laughing. “Oh my god, that’s amazing. Megatron, the world traveler.”

I rolled my eyes. “Are you done?”

“Never. Just because we’re hooking up doesn’t mean that I’m going to stop teasing you every chance I get.”

I brushed a kiss along her jaw. “It’s a good thing you’re fucking amazing in bed.”

She shuddered in my arms. “You’re pretty decent yourself.”

I bit down on her earlobe, then laved the spot with my tongue while she squirmed against me. “Decent, huh,” I rasped in her ear. “Like right now, I could slip my hand into your panties and not find you drenched for me?”

“Don’t you have a plane to catch?” Her hands skated slowly up and down my spine.

I groaned against her skin. Fuck. I couldn’t be late, but I didn’t want to leave.

Cupping her face, I held her gaze for a moment and relished the desire that filled her hazel eyes. It no doubt matched mine. We would definitely have to fess up to her brother at some point because I didn’t see this ending any time soon, if ever.

Fuck. I liked the idea of that more than I should.

She was mine.

“You’re going to be so late,” she murmured, a grin on her face. Then she drew me down into a kiss and parted her lips, letting her tongue dart out to tangle with mine.

I slanted my head and deepened the kiss, knowing it had to last me for five days until I walked back into this condo.

“Fuck. I want to carry you back to my bed right now,” I growled against her lips when I pulled back from the kiss. “We are definitely dirty video-chatting while I’m away.”

“Absolutely. Now get your hot ass out of this house so Millsy doesn’t ream you for being late. I bet you’ve never been late, ever.” Her cheeks were flushed, and her eyes twinkled.

“Never. But I have been close a few times since you walked back into my life.”

She ducked her head. “Sorry about that.”

“Your chaos is growing on me. Maybe some would say it’s good for me.”

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